I did some soul searching this past week. I am looking to find a way to support myself through my creativity. It is not going to happen overnight. I am writing books, and I make beaded jewellery, and I am trying to stay focused.
I have been trying to figure out how to put all the pieces together, and to get ahead. It is an ambitious goal, to be able to support myself by living out my dreams. I am working hard but wanted to explore another what if.
I considered looking into becoming a graphic designer. I am learning so much and challenging myself. I am building a website. For a split second, I wavered. I thought about how much easier it would be for me to tackle a project like that if I learned how to do things properly. If I had the knowledge, it would be easier, and I could advance my own website and launch a career with my own website being my social proof. It would be the best way to start a career.
I thought about it. Really, really thought about it. Hard.
I came to a conclusion. I do not need to branch off in another direction. I have found my passion and the best creative outlet. I need to write. I want to keep doing beadwork, but I need to write. I have been on this journey for a year, now. I have written consistently on the Blog, and I am aiming higher. I want to be a full time writer. I need to write, it is what I am supposed to do.
It is not the easiest decision because it is not going to happen overnight. It is going to take more hard work and dedication. It will try my patience and have challenges. Building a website has already presented me with a roadblock, that I put up myself. I had to sit with it, and sleep on it, and think about it. I have plans, and they will be tackled next month. This month I am writing.
Going in a different direction now would be a disaster. I have found something that feels right to me. It is a dream I had put away for so long that I almost forgot about it. When I started this Blog a year ago, it was to see if it was something I could stick to. Often I have taken on projects and put them aside. I have not stopped writing here, in fact, I have added more to it in this category. I am doing it. Writing consistently. Posting three times a week. Building on what I started a year ago, and proving to myself that it wasn’t another hobby. This is it. My calling. I am so glad that I took a chance and started something new. I am still being contacted by people for advice on how to start their own blog. I can only offer advice and honesty in return for the inquiries. I do know that if I can do it, anybody can. It may not be something that everyone enjoys doing like I do. It may not be someone else’s passion. But it is possible. I am not an expert, but I am having fun, and I still want to keep doing this. When you find out what you are really good at, you will know. If something else catches your attention, think about it, and make a decision. I know that I need to focus on what I need to do and stop being distracted by other choices. This is something I learned in the past year. I look forward to writing and sharing more of this journey here, on the Blog, and seeing where the next year takes me. It is going to see my Blog move to my website. That is something I am not ready for today, but I have the groundwork started and will be focusing on a new launch date, to be announced before it is officially moved.
Until then, I am writing a book for NaNoWriMo, and having a lot of fun with it. Writing in the different points of view of the cats I used to have has been a real trip down memory lane. Oops, did I just let the cat out of the bag? Yes, I am writing a book about cat stories, written as if they are telling the stories. At this point, every single word is breaking a record for the most words I have written with a book as the final goal. That is something that I am holding on to, whether or not I finish the 50,000 word count goal this month. I am going to do my best to pull it off by the end of the month. I still have time. I am also thinking about my fantasy trilogy, and writing notes to myself as they pop into my brain.
I am doing what I can to chase my dreams and catch them so I can make them a reality in my life. What are you dreaming about doing? What is stopping you from trying something to help you find your passion? I am Always Thinking…so if there is something that you want to say out loud to someone, that you want to put into writing, reach out to me, and I will help you if I can. I am finding something else that surprised me about this journey. People want to reach out, and ask advice. I may not know all of the answers, but I can tell you that if you are scared to ask questions, I’m not. I will ask for you if I don’t know the answer to your questions myself. It is something that I am known for. It is how I learn. The other big lesson I learned is to never give up. Being stubborn, it is a hard thing for me to do, to give up. Sometimes, it takes distance to reevaluate the problem, and then try it from another angle. Which I am working on right now in my book writing goals and my website building project. It will happen. It may take more than one attempt, but I have faith in myself that I will succeed. If you want to do something that makes your heart sing, be realistic in your expectations, and go for it. I am, and I am so happy that I took a chance on something that makes me happy. I want the same for all of you. If I can help, I will. All you have to do is ask. 🙂
#TreasureSeekerTuesday
Treasure Seeker Tuesday: Photo by Tish MacWebber; Photo Edited by Noa Price
Hi. I am so glad that you took a few minutes out of your busy day to read my blog. I am humbled and honoured every single time I get feedback and new statistics. Every time you take time to read one of my stories, you impact my dreams. You reinforce my beliefs to follow my dreams and make them into a reality. I am discovering my purpose here on this Earth. I am so glad that I am making it happen, and I am just as happy that you are sharing my journey with me.
I have always had a creative spark within. It was not enough. I have worked on cross stitches, embroidery, drawing, painting, beadwork, knitting and crocheting, and now I have rediscovered my love for writing. I didn’t work on my writing very much since high school. When I was in English classes, it turned me off writing as a career. I had to read books I never would have chosen to read, then I was forced to find hidden meanings that were a stretch for me to believe. I like things to be at face value. I also like to be funny, punny and clever. Dissection belongs in science class, not in English class.
After high school, I chose a path to science. I started a pre-vet program. I never made it to vet school. I did finish my Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, with an Animal Science Degree. It was an honours degree. It took me longer than the average four years to complete it, but that makes me all the more proud to hang it on my wall.
I met my husband while studying for that degree. We met through a group of mutual friends. When we decided to start dating, things clicked. We are happily married, and that is something that I can wish for all of you to find. Love. It is an adventure that we all need to grab onto and hold tight when it happens.
If you are not in that kind of relationship at the moment, please do not despair. It is not your time yet. Things happen for a reason, and I truly believe that. Your story is not yet finished, and it is up to you to get up every day and see where it takes you.
I did not find a job with my Bachelor of Science. I went back to school and trained to be a Pharmacy Technician, who currently earns her living by working in a call center. Is this the career path I would have chosen for myself ? No. Would I jump at the chance to go back into the world of pharmacy? Absolutely. I enjoyed using the scientific side of my mind. It was a satisfying career choice. But it was not the reason I ended up taking that course.
I believe that I was sent in that direction for another reason. I learned how to mix IV medications and prepare chemotherapy drugs in a sterile hood. My familiarity with working with needles helped me to adapt to having to learn how to give myself insulin. Sometimes you need to figure out what led you to the path you are on, so you can decide if you want to keep on that journey, or find a new branch and follow another trail.
No matter what path you are on, it is up to you to learn what you can while you are there. When you have finished learning all that you can, if you are not still inspired to continue learning, it is time to try something different. Even if it scares you. When you do this you are pushing boundaries, and that is when the magic happens.
Now I am going to plant some seeds. Something to think about for the week, to help you on your own journey. What choices did you make to lead you to where you are today? If it was difficult, it was to make you stronger. How did it do that? If it was easy, why was that easy for you? What things do you love doing so much that you lose track of time when you are working on them? Those are the things you need to investigate further, to see where they will take you. Maybe when you do, you will find that you surprise yourself like I do when I am writing.
One last thought. When you find yourself going two steps forward, and three or even five steps back, go with it. Dance within the ebbs and flows of life. Join me, and together we will make our own paths in this world. One step at a time.
#TreasureSeekerTuesday
Treasure Seeker Tuesday: Photo by Tish MacWebber; Photo Edited by Noa Price
A hummingbird, in flight, searching for nectar and chasing rainbows
Things are really starting to come together for me since I started taking an interest in branding myself as an author and artist while learning how to grow my tribe. I have been expanding my own horizons, chasing my dreams, and fueling my own creativity by following my passions. I am currently working on so many things at once, I wanted to start a new category here, in the Blog, for news that relates to you. I am launching it officially on Tuesday, but I could not wait to share this idea with you all, so I am publishing this introduction a little early. If you are reading this, and you are following my Blog, then you are a Treasure Seeker. But what does that mean?
It means that you have taken an interest in my writing. I have been told my blog is like a journal. I have been told that I write as if I was having an actual conversation with the reader. I have several categories on my blog, and I have some fictional stories at Tish MacWebber on Medium . I write from my heart, and I try to make things funny or give you my very own perspective that makes you think. At least, that is what I hope you get out of reading my stories. Because to me, they are all stories, based on how I see life, the good, the bad, and the stuff I never thought I would write about. It means that you have taken an interest in what I am working on. Whether it is my custom made jewellery that you can see at Tish’s Treasures or maybe you were a customer before I even started the Blog. I plan to open an online store when I launch my own website, and I am so excited to share my treasures with the world. Gems are often considered to be treasures. I like to think of myself as a gem, sparkly and shiny, with a highly polished surface, cut to display multifaceted layers of beauty from the outside in.
Multifaceted
Maybe you know me personally and have been swept up in my enthusiasm for my newly rediscovered passion. I know it is contagious. It is visible. It is inspirational, and I don’t say that because it was the reason I started this journey. I say this because people I know want to join me in the blogging community, or in their own creative outlets. They can see how happy I am when I am telling people about what I am working on, and they want to find their own way to feel the same way I do.
Finally, it means that you want to be inspired to seek your own treasures. I can help you do that. It’s not all about me. I want to help the Treasure Seeker in you to learn with me and seek the treasures that you have been hiding. My passion fuels my creativity. It is positively contagious. You can see it when you look at me, you can hear it when you talk to me, and you can read it when I write about things that I am inspired to write about.
Take flight in search of your hidden treasures
If you are new to my Blog, grab onto something and hold on. I am in the midst of preparing to launch my own website, and the tagline description is Bling | Blog | Books. It is the biggest project I have tackled this far, and it is progressing when I have time. It will be launched soon. I have to create a store, and even though I want it to be perfect for you all, I need the time to figure out how it is all going to fit together. I now understand that it doesn’t have to be perfect to share it, but I am still in the planning stages, so it is not ready yet. Opening soon, I promise. What else do I have up my sleeve? Well, if you join the Tish’s Treasure Seekers officially, then you will be in the loop. I am full of surprises, and I have even been known to surprise myself! What is holding you back from chasing your dreams? Why not make it official, and join the Tish’s Treasure Seekers group on Facebook. Or you can send me an e-mail, at tishmacwebber@gmail.com. I am Always Thinking…and great at brainstorming. We can have a consultation, and start to figure things out. Two heads are better than one.
Welcome, friends, I look forward to sharing Treasure Seeker Tuesdays with you.
Wow. I am winning this weekend all over the place. I have so much going on, and I wanted to write to share some big news with you all. Big news. First I need to give you the rest of the story.
Friday night is a distant memory. I am still floored by the fact that when I checked my Blog on Friday, that I had 930 followers. I know there are more now. This little Blog that could (it is my nickname for this blog and a title I have used for a story on the blog) is just amazing. I am so thankful that there are people that take time out of their busy lives to read what I am writing. It gives me such a rush! It confirms that I am on my way as an author, and inspires me to keep going.I worked so hard on Saturday, I don’t even remember what else I was up to on Friday. Saturday was the start of something new. And big. Did I mention big? It’s huge.
I am in the process of building my own website. I took the leap, and have had a lot of friends want to help. I am working on leveling up! It is good to know that people support me and want to help. Technology is not my passion, but I am asking questions and trying new things all the time. It is still a lot of work, but now it is a little more familiar than the first time I started this blogging adventure.
I needed to schedule time away from the computer this afternoon. I was so focused on the new website yesterday that I spent all of Saturday online. I am thinking Saturday might be needing a new definition for me. It hasn’t been chore day for several weeks. It is hard to tear myself away, but necessary. If I don’t make time for prep cooking and cleaning, the week will be expensive and messy. So I am going to take a break from the computer today and get some other things done.
Before I left, I decided to try and start a movement this week. I called it #ShareYourLoveSunday and I made a graphic to go along with it. What do you think?
The goal is to start a discussion, based on love, positivity and good news. I have had a few people join in, so maybe I am starting to learn more about turning things around, and shaking things up in a good way. If you want to participate, leave a comment here or on my Tish’s Treasure Seekers Group on Facebook or @Tish MacWebber on Twitter. I wanted to start something small that could have a big impact. If you choose to join the facebook group, why not take the extra three minutes to join the Tish’s Treasure Seekers Birthday Bling Club? There is a form with 5 required questions and one optional one. I will be checking progress later on. For now, onward with the things that I don’t want to do because I need to do them, and also so I can get back to working on the things I want to do. What are you doing this weekend?
I have been working on myself in more areas than one, all at once. I am learning, growing and changing as a result of the work I am doing. The work I am doing online involves some challenges. I am thinking (more than usual) and I am inspired! I am working to change my life by turning my dreams into a reality.
I first took part in the #brandstorychallenge last week. It is over now, and people actually participate in it more than once. It is that good, and the information is different each time you take it! The basics may be similar each time, as it has a solid foundation, but you are guaranteed to learn something new each time you take this free challenge. My Day 6 Bonus Challenge homework was a design I made in Canva. That program was introduced to me earlier in my blogging journey. Along with Pixabay, where I get some of the most wonderful pictures that are free to use for my blog like the flower pictures shared in this story, are two of the many tips I have learned from asking a million and one questions. Which I do. All the time.
I am proud of completing the first challenge, and this was the “Culture Credo” bonus that I designed:
I am really excited about how that turned out. I LOVE it when my brain works and comes up with the most creative and wonderful ideas. That is why I am here, still blogging. It is something I have a lot of fun with, and something that I really enjoy!
This week started a new challenge. It is all about the audience. It is the #growyourtribechallenge. The same person that taught the first one is teaching this one, too. I have just completed the Day 2 homework. I like the things I am learning. It is making me think, and because I am writing my answers in a journal, and sharing it all every day, privately in the #PaidToBeYouPosse group (where you can find the challenges if you are interested) on Facebook and sharing the summaries publicly to win prizes.
After completing the #BrandStoryChallenge, I was in the draw for a prize, but I did not win. I feel like I won something that will help me move forward, though. I asked a list of questions, and they were almost all answered in the closing video for the challenge last week. I used my talent of rapid fire think and ask questions to my advantage. Jennifer Kem graciously took almost an hour of the 90-minute video to address almost all of my questions. I am certain that other people were maybe too shy to ask, and I certainly didn’t think she would pick more than one or two at most. As she runs a four-month long course that is not free like the challenges I am participating in, I didn’t get EVERY SINGLE QUESTION answered, but that is SMART. It makes me want to start saving up for the next time the course will be offered, to get more training to become a successful entrepreneur. I have already started business ideas before this, so I do consider myself an entrepreneur. Becoming a success story, well that is what I am developing as I progress on this journey. So again, Jennifer, thanks for the answers, I feel like I had a coaching session, and the advice was priceless! If you are interested in her course, check out her website http://www.jenniferkem.com/. She teaches about #masterbrand and #paidtobeyou.
Now, to address the two remaining elements in this Tish-ism. What brought this one to life? I was journaling away at my homework from Day 2. I was on the final question, and it was in my mind. The people in my tribe that read this blog are open to the “Tish-bits” of information that I share here. I was inspired in the middle of answering that question, and I just put up a bracket and wrote it and used some other terms in the answer too. I Tishsplained “Tish-isms”, “Tishsplaining”, and my new term “Tish-bits” right in the body of my answer. If you have been following my blog, then you will know that my brain never stops, and it felt right to me to just stick it all in my answer. I made it all relatable like I do.
The last mysterious element in the latest Tish-ism is what kind of flower that picture at the top of the story was. I will solve the mystery here if you didn’t guess it already.
It was a close-up of a Sunflower, my second favourite flower, after the Wild Cape Breton Rose.
